Happy Garden Spots

My garden hasn't had much attention from me for months now.  It doesn't get enough sun in winter to grow any fruit, veg or flowers and I am pathetic at being cold.  I did pop out the backdoor on the weekend and say hello to some of my favourite spots.  They seem to forgive me for the lack of attention and look lovely regardless.

Agaves and Aloes

Collection of succulents in pots and my little pond up high on the
 plinth, so as to keep the dog out.

More pots under the Lilly Pilly's at the back patio.

Round the side.

Sew Tessuti Favourite Top

I had been eyeing off this free Sew Tessuti pattern for a while but was too scared of knit fabrics to have a go.  Last week I decided to be free of fear and give it ago, and I love my new top!!!  It really did take about 45 mins, with the cutting out making up about 30 mins of that time.  I used a Metalicus fabric I got from The Fabric Store for only $6 a metre!

The most fabulous snugly winter top ever, superb for layering.

I added about 5 cm to the sleeve length and have my next top all cut out and ready to sew. 

 l love it with my new scarf, I am living in these clothes.

Pom Pom Trim Scarf

You know that feeling when you are just a bit fed up with all your clothes and feel like you wear the same thing day in day out?  I had that last week and the only cure I know of, is to make something.  I had this fantastic bit of yellow Spotlight sear sucker and some pop pom trim just perfect for a new scarf, all for about $6.

150cm by 50 cm wide, fold in half length ways and sew inside out to make one great big tube.  Turn the right way in and hem the rough edges inside the tube.  Trim with the pom poms to make it lovely.

I figure when I am sick if it as a scarf it can become a table runner.

Friendship Bands

Friendship bands!!!  I have imparted the ancient knowledge of friendship band making to my daughters and hence met one of my parenting obligations under the UN rights of the Child Convention.

Toes are so under rated as a crafting tool.

Not too bad at all girls

Miss M flagged first and decided to tidy up my embroidery threads - how lucky am I 

Neat Freak, OCD call it what you will, I love having my one super neat kid.

Pretties

How beautiful are these little buttons.  I am not sure what I am not sure what I am going to do with them yet, I am just playing with them at the moment.  

I have been feeling like doing some stitching but can't come up with a design I like.  Then Miss S did this drawing for me. I think its fantastic and it has exactly the right amount of whimsy I was looking for.      Time to get tracing.

Dolly Quilts and Ding Bats

Holiday activities... I am trying to involve the children in my new sewing machine.  My theory is that if I make things with/for the children they won't dob on me when Daddy gets home and say "Mummy neglected us all day - again."  

Dolly quilt and pillow for Miss S's Dolly
(I am still not making much of a dint into my stash)

Melly and Me Bats for Miss M and Master B.
 I will add Mr Dadddy: they did choose their fabrics, trace and cut out
the patterns and do some of the sewing.
There are no mouths on ours (Melly's have mouths and are soooo cute)
 The children just wanted to play with them - fine by me.

Oooh little bubba bats how sweet.

Tova Top in Grey and Yellow

I am addicted to this pattern and can not stop myself from making it.  This is my third Tova garment in as many weeks.  What better way to try out my new machine right?  Please excuse the iphone photos, the kids were trying on clothes in the Myers change rooms and I thought I would take the opportunity to use their full length mirrors and excellent lighting.

Cotton fabric from The Fabric Store

I have no idea who those fighting children in the background are. 

A New Machine

Its Happy New Machine Day to me.  I am the proud owner of a brand sparkling new Janome DC2101.  It is probably quite a modest machine compared to many others on the market,  but I am loving the one step button hole.

All my sewing years until now I have been very happy using Mum's 20 year old Janome.  I was going with the waste not want not philosophy.  Why would I buy a new machine when this free one was working perfectly well?   Mum was over the other day and had some firm words with me, which pretty much gave me the permission to fork out for my very own new machine.   Mum's machine will make its way to my sister.  And so the circle of sewing machine life continues....

It's got lots of Buttons.